2020 End of Season / Playoffs

[S.R.]

I think the overall point that Canada may be looking better and better to Americans as a place to live (and raise kids) is valid. 15-20 years ago the only things guys like Bosh and AD had to say were "cable sux" and "metric system." More significant differences, in Canada's favour, are creeping into the public consciousness in the US. Combined with the Raptors establishing themselves as a reputable organization and DeMar/Lowry type guys showing the league established All-Stars can actually like living and playing in Toronto, there's a solid argument that the perception around playing for the Raptors has probably changed a lot over the past 5 years.

[Apollo]

They are hardly living is ground zero, they're isolated from the outside world (with the exception to Lou Will). It's not like they are operating like the MLB.

They're are in a bubble in the middle of the most infected state in the most infected country in the world. That's ground zero by my definition. They're clean, for now.

[DanH]

They're are in a bubble in the middle of the most infected state in the most infected country in the world. That's ground zero by my definition. They're clean, for now.

I'd say the MLB has demonstrated the reality of ground zero, and how far removed that is from the NBA's situation.

[Apollo]

I think the overall point that Canada may be looking better and better to Americans as a place to live (and raise kids) is valid. 15-20 years ago the only things guys like Bosh and AD had to say were "cable sux" and "metric system." More significant differences, in Canada's favour, are creeping into the public consciousness in the US. Combined with the Raptors establishing themselves as a reputable organization and DeMar/Lowry type guys showing the league established All-Stars can actually like living and playing in Toronto, there's a solid argument that the perception around playing for the Raptors has probably changed a lot over the past 5 years.

I'll believe it when they entice a perennial all-star to come here.

[golden]

I think the overall point that Canada may be looking better and better to Americans as a place to live (and raise kids) is valid. 15-20 years ago the only things guys like Bosh and AD had to say were "cable sux" and "metric system." More significant differences, in Canada's favour, are creeping into the public consciousness in the US. Combined with the Raptors establishing themselves as a reputable organization and DeMar/Lowry type guys showing the league established All-Stars can actually like living and playing in Toronto, there's a solid argument that the perception around playing for the Raptors has probably changed a lot over the past 5 years.

Winning has changed the perception of the Raptors franchise to some FAs. In the past, you never would have seen these type of comments / rumours from all-star calibre players like Beal and Porzingis. Never. Not even close. And this was AFTER Kawhi & Danny left. It starts with perception.

But still, if we want to say that the Raptors are the new Spurs, then even the Spurs have never landed the biggest fishes. Best FA they ever signed was probably prime LaMarcus Aldridge. That's the difficult situation we're in, where even winning consistently and winning the ultimate prize is discounted by FAs.

[The Great One]

Lowry has to be in here as well, no?

[RandomGuy]

Lowry has to be in here as well, no?

[KeonClark]

Lowry has to be in here as well, no?

Lowry snubbed again. Honorary member if there was a category "4th team all NBA"

[Apollo]

Winning has changed the perception of the Raptors franchise to some FAs. In the past, you never would have seen these type of comments / rumours from all-star calibre players like Beal and Porzingis. Never. Not even close. And this was AFTER Kawhi & Danny left. It starts with perception.

But still, if we want to say that the Raptors are the new Spurs, then even the Spurs have never landed the biggest fishes. Best FA they ever signed was probably prime LaMarcus Aldridge. That's the difficult situation we're in, where even winning consistently and winning the ultimate prize is discounted by FAs.

Beal mentioned Toronto as one of the places he's not going. The real test is what happens when the Raptors have money and there are elite players on the market. Sure winning helps but don't undervalue how Americans have generally treated the only Canadian team as an after thought from all perspectives. Even after winning the Chip the discussion on TV down there was "are the Raptors the worst champions in NBA history?"

The only other time I heard that conversation was when Dallas won it and surprise, surprise, their superstar happened to be from Germany.

[KeonClark]

Beal mentioned Toronto as one of the places he's not going.

As they say at the Oscar's, "it's an honor just to be nominated"

[S.R.]

Seeing the Clippers look a bit unfocused, in and out of the bubble, definitely missing potential reps in scrimmage and the 8 regular season games (so important for a team that had their whole lineup healthy only 12 times this year), makes me think that this is Kawhi's first real leadership test. He was in a really strong, mature environment in SA where he didn't have to lead, he joined a mature Raptors team with a great culture and mature leadership, and now he's gone to LA which, after Doc, has...Lou Williams?

Clippers rolled when healthy this year and are maybe overconfident or maybe justifiably confident. Lou's mentality is absolutely that he can go clubbing till 3 AM then come to a game next day and drop 25 (he's said as much). They kind of look like a team that's taken on Lou's mentality more than Kawhi's. Are they good enough to just drop the hammer on whoever they meet in the playoffs? Or is this going to catch up to them?

[LJ2]

Seeing the Clippers look a bit unfocused, in and out of the bubble, definitely missing potential reps in scrimmage and the 8 regular season games (so important for a team that had their whole lineup healthy only 12 times this year), makes me think that this is Kawhi's first real leadership test. He was in a really strong, mature environment in SA where he didn't have to lead, he joined a mature Raptors team with a great culture and mature leadership, and now he's gone to LA which, after Doc, has...Lou Williams?

Clippers rolled when healthy this year and are maybe overconfident or maybe justifiably confident. Lou's mentality is absolutely that he can go clubbing till 3 AM then come to a game next day and drop 25 (he's said as much). They kind of look like a team that's taken on Lou's mentality more than Kawhi's. Are they good enough to just drop the hammer on whoever they meet in the playoffs? Or is this going to catch up to them?

George and Beverly are probably ahead in the pecking order. To be honest I feel the saddest part about Lou's actions is that it may have made him more of a legend among his piers. He's already got a lot of respect from players for openly being with two ladies.

[inthepaint]

Beal mentioned Toronto as one of the places he's not going. The real test is what happens when the Raptors have money and there are elite players on the market. Sure winning helps but don't undervalue how Americans have generally treated the only Canadian team as an after thought from all perspectives. Even after winning the Chip the discussion on TV down there was "are the Raptors the worst champions in NBA history?"

The only other time I heard that conversation was when Dallas won it and surprise, surprise, their superstar happened to be from Germany.

Raptors had the second highest scoring duo in NBA playoff history (Kawhi & Siakam) and one of the best defences in 15 years since the 2004 pistons. Any coach that played the Raptors in the playoffs or broke down film from that Raptors team will tell you how elite that team was. The dismissing by the american media is due to 2 reasons: (1) clickbaiting on the insecurities of fans up here, and (2) saltiness and bitterness about the fact that it was yet another year that LA, Boston, Philly and NY were not in the finals (they will forever brown-nose those teams because that's where the ratings are).

[Demographic Shift]

George and Beverly are probably ahead in the pecking order. To be honest I feel the saddest part about Lou's actions is that it may have made him more of a legend among his piers. He's already got a lot of respect from players for openly being with two ladies.

He asked to leave to attend a family funeral... and wound up partying at a rippers joing. For the food apparently.
Lou is as an altruistic humanitarian as it gets.

[Hotshot]

He asked to leave to attend a family funeral... and wound up partying at a rippers joing. For the food apparently.
Lou is as an altruistic humanitarian as it gets.

Lou will make excuses if he will play badly in the playoffs and when the Clippers drop him like a hot potato, he will start talking shit about the franchise to the media.

Rinse and repeat.